“It’s not about summits or accolades. It’s about someone who has crossed life’s challenges and then turns back to help others. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave, one that empowers others.”
Class speaker and MBA 2024 graduate Lauren Holding
The MBA Class of 2024 marked their graduation with a clear message from speakers that true achievements are more powerful when they pave the way for others.
Opening the ceremony, MBA Dean and Hilti Chair Omar Toulan commended the class for their resilience and determination in navigating the intense challenges of a rigorous program over the past year.
“I have had the opportunity to see each of you grow and evolve over the last 11 months. From strangers, hesitant to reveal your vulnerabilities, to lifelong friends who have shared joys and sorrows with each other. I know this is a day with mixed emotions, exhilaration, and pride in having completed one of the world’s best and most intense MBA programs,” he said.
Inspire change
Speaking at his first MBA graduation ceremony since he assumed the presidency of IMD, David Bach noted that the class was graduating into a deeply divided world grappling with global challenges like protecting the planet, reducing poverty, and responsibly advancing AI. Such a world demands leaders who are prepared to lead with courage and make a positive contribution to society.
“Change happens in the world because people step up and lead. And you all know that leadership is not something that you do 20 years from now when you have a nice corner office; you know it’s something that you do every day, through your behavior, regardless of your formal authority,” said Bach, who is Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy.
“The world you are graduating into is complex and full of challenges. But you have agency. You have the tools, the skills, the mindset and the relationships to make a difference. We are confident that you can make things happen that otherwise would not have happened. And that you will thereby contribute to making the world more prosperous, more sustainable, and more inclusive.”
Get comfortable with discomfort
Graduating into a highly uncertain geopolitical environment, coupled with rapid advances in technology, means the path forward is not always obvious. Keynote speaker Paolo Guglielmini, former president and CEO of Hexagon AB, who himself graduated from IMD in 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis, shared his wisdom.
“Take ownership and fix things,” he said. “People that deliver reliably, and work genuinely, stand out from the crowd at any level. Do it time and time again, with humility and discipline, and magically opportunities will come your way. “
Guglielmini also urged graduates to embrace what he called the “virtuous cycle of discomfort and growth.”
“For years and years, I felt out of my depth. Over the years, that discomfort changed shape. The bottom line is that we have no idea about our own limitations. Seek out discomfort, test yourself and repeat.”
Reflect on the legacy you want to leave
Class speaker Lauren Holding shared the highlights from a year that she likened to an “intense, exhilarating climb” and reflected on how to create a meaningful life following the transformative MBA journey. She urged her newly minted fellow graduates to consider the relationships they wish to nurture, the steps they are taking to discover their purpose, and the legacy they aspire to leave behind, citing a poem called “The Bridge Builder” which describes an old man who builds a bridge for others who will come after him.
“It’s not about summits or accolades. It’s about someone who has crossed life’s challenges and then turns back to help others. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave, one that empowers others, whether that’s through mentorship, kindness or just being there when someone needs an ear to listen and honestly that’s the legacy we’ve been building here,” she said.
“Class of 2024, we have summited this mountain, but many more lie ahead. Let’s carry the lessons, friendship, and inspiration from this year with us as we tackle the next challenges. Congratulations on everything you have achieved and here’s to the incredible journeys to come.”
